Cyclometer



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-8heet 1.

O. T. HIGGINBOTHAM.

OYGLOMETER.

No. 596,242. Patented Dec. 28,1897.

Fig.1.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. O. T. HIGGINBOTHAM.

GYGLOMETER.

No. 596,242. Patented Dec. 28,1897.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: W76; I 1301171. %u( r W WM (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3'.

C. T. HIGGINBOTHAM.

GYGLOMETER.

No. 596,242. Patented Dec. 28,1897,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. HIGGINBOTHAM, OF TIIOMASTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SETH THOMAS CLOCK COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

CYCLOM ETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,242, dated December 28, 1897.

Application filed August 19, 1896. Serial No. 603,194. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES T. HIGGIN- BOTHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thomaston, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain neW and useful Improvement in Cyclometers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in cyclometers; and it consists in the novel mechanical construction of the same hereinafter fully described.

The object of my invention is to provide, in a cyclometer, means for intermittently rotating rings carrying numerals upon their peripheral faces for the purpose of indicating the distance traveled and automatic means for positively locking each ring against independent rotation, the organization being such that the device performs its function in a simple and effective manner, the frictional engagement between the parts being reduced to a minimum.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide a mechanism that possesses compactness and durability and that can readily be readjusted, assembled, or disassembled.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an enlarged side elevation of my improved cyclometer. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opposite end of Fig. 1. Figs. i, 5, 6, and 7 are views of the internal mechanism. Fig. 8 is an elevation similar to Fig. 2, the external parts being removed. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through the center of the cyclometer, and Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are details of my invention.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

A is a casing of preferably substantially cylindrical outline. B is a core fixedly supported Within said casing and containing a recess in one side, as shown.

0; is a cover for one end of the casing, the opposite end of the latter being by preference normally closed except for a central perforation, through which the driving-shaft passes.

D is a revoluble drivingshaft passing through substantially the center of the casin g A and finding its pivotal support in the ends thereof. To the outer end of the shaft D is secured a star-wheel D, by means of which the shaft D is intermittently rotated by the vehicle-wheel in the usual manner.

D is an extension or cross-head carried by the shaft D and pivotally supporting a pinion E.

F is a stationary ring mounted in the easing A and toothed 011 its inner periphery and adapted to engage with the teeth on the piuion E. (See Figs. 41 and 9.)

G is a loose ring having external and internal gear-teeth, the internal diameter of said ring being less than the internal diameter of the fixed ring F, and the external diameter of the said ring being less than the internal diameter of numeral-wheel H, as determined byinwardly-directed teeth 7L on said nu meralwheel. The internal teeth on the ring G are adapted to be engaged by the teeth on the pinion E,which, as before stated, likewise engage the internal teeth on the fixed ring F, the Width of the teeth on pinion E being sufficiently great to engage both at the same time. lVhen the parts are assembled, the ring Gr is held between the pinion E and the internal teeth on the numeral-ring H nearest said pinion, and because of the diameters of the ring G with respect to the cooperative parts it will be seen that only a few of its teeth are in engagement at one time. The fixed ring F, the pinion E, and the ring G, in connection with numeral-ring H, constitute a differential gear, inasmuch as the number of teeth 011 the fixed ring F is greater than the number of internal teeth upon the ring G, so that as the pinion E is carried around the shaft D the ring G is gradually advanced, thus slowly advancing the numeral-ring II.

The numeral rings represent successively units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on, and are lettered II, H, H and H respectively. H is the units-ring and contains numerals O to 9, inclusive, around its periphery, as do the other rings. In this instance the numerals on the units-ring H designate fractions of miles, and inasmuch as there are ten numerals on said ring it will be understood that each numeral represents a tenth of a mile. One complete revolution of the ring I'I advances the ring ll one point as to numer- IOU . pinions.

als, the ring H advances the next adjacent ring I1 one point, and so on throughout the series.- It should be stated that the side of the caseA is cut away, as shown, so as to expose one figure on each of the series of numeral-rings. This opening may be covered by any suitable transparent material, so as to protect the internal mechanism from dust, rain, dsc. Each numeral-ring is provided on the side opposite the teeth h h with a laterally-flanged extension J. Each of the numeral-rings is provided on the side adjacent to the flange J with a lug K K K K respectively, each lug standing substantially on a level with said flange.

It being clear how the rotary movement of the shaft D is transmitted to the first of the series of numeral-rings, it is necessary to ascertain how motion is transmitted to the second of the series of numeral-rings, and so on. In describing the mechanism accomplishing this end reference is had particularly to Figs. (3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14.

L is a stationary shaft mounted in the easing A within the recess in the core B and ex tending parallel to the revoluble shaft D. Upon this shaft are loosely mounted pinions H M M M and, if desirable, a suitable washer may be placed between each of said The purpose of each of these pinions is twofold: first, to lock one of two adjacent numeral-rings, and, second, to release at the proper time and advance the said ringa given space and again lock the same.

I is a plate pinned or otherwise detachably secured to the upper end of the core B, said plate affording a means for holding one end of the stationary shaft L.

The pinions M have a given number of teeth, preferably six, each alternate tooth having one end cut away, thus making six teeth on one end of the pinion and three on the other end, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14:, the three short teeth being designated by the letter N and the three long teeth by the letter 0.

The numeral-rings H H H H are loosely supported within the casing A and find their central bearing around the core B, and, if desirable, a suitable washer may be placed between said rings. The pinions M are loosely mounted on the arbor L and operate as follows, particular reference being had to Fig. 11: Each pinion stands normally with the short leaves N in engagement with the adjacent internal gear-teeth of a numeralring. These short teeth also project beneath the flange J of the preceding numeral-ring and stand into the path of the lug K,carried thereon. Therefore the first numeral-ring H will once in each revolution bring the lug K into engagement with one of the short leaves of the pinion M. Two of the long leaves 0 normally bear against the inner periphery of the ring H, and, being staggered away from the pivotal center L, are thus prevented from revolving until the lug K is in the act of tripping the pinion by impinging against one of the short leaves, at which moment a recess 7.; in the lug, which recess also extends, as shown, into the ring carrying aid lug, is brought adjacent to one of the long leaves, thus permitting the same to enter therein as the pinion is tripped and revolved one-third of a revolution. This revolution carries the ring 11 one step, the short teeth being in constant engagement therewith. It should be understood that by the term one step is meant one step as to numerals and two steps as to the number of internal gear-teeth. .Vhcn the pinion M has been revolved to this point, the lug K ceases to contact with the short teeth N thereon, and the inner periphery of the preceding numeralring H again rides over two of the long teeth 0, (see Fig. (3,) positively locking the pinion against rotation until the numeral-ring completes another rotation, when the action is repeated. This locking of the pinion lvl against rotation also looks the numeral-rin g H against rotation, as the internal teeth on said ring H are in constant gear with the short teeth N on said pinion. The ring 11 is also provided with a lug K, which in turn acts on the next pinion M of the series to operate the ring ll in a manner similar to that just described, and so on throughout the series.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cyclometer a stationaryring having internal teeth, a revoluble driving-shaft carrying a cross-head, a pinion pivotally mounted thereon, a loose ring as described gearing with said pinion and with the internal teeth in a numeral-ring adjacent to said pinion, said parts cooperatively acting to transmit motion from the driving-shaft to said nu moral-ring, substantially as described.

2. In a cyclometer a stationary ringhavin g internal teeth,a revoluble driving-shaft carrying a crosshead, a pinion pivotally mounted thereon, a numeral-ring havinginternal gearteeth, and a loose ring having external and internal gear-teeth, the external diameter of said loose ring being less than the internal diameter of the numeral-ring as determined by the gear-teeth thereon, the internal diameter of said ring being less than the internal diameter of the said stationary ring, all of said gears operating as described to transmit 1no tion from the driving-shaft to the said numeral-ring.

3. In a cyclometer a series of 11 um eral-bearing rings, a stationary ring having internal teeth, a revoluble driving-shaft carrying a cross-head, a pinion pivotally mounted thereon, a numeral ring having internal gearteeth, and a loose ring having external and internal gear-teeth, the external diameter of said loose ring being less than the internal diameter of the numeral-ring as determined by the gear-teeth thereon, the internal diam eter of said ring being less than the internal diameter of the said stationary ring, all of said gears operating as described to transmit motion from the driving-shaft to the said numeral-ring, and means as described for transmitting motion from the first of said numeral-rings to the remainder of the series.

4. In a oyclometer a stationary ring having internal teeth, a revoluble driving-shaft carrying a cross-head,a pinion pivotally mounted thereon, a numeral-rin g having internal gearteeth on the side thereof adjacent to said fixed ring, a loose ring having internal and external gear-teeth, the internal diameter of the said loose ring being less than the internal diameter of the said stationary ring, the number of internal gear-teeth on the loose ring being less than the number of internal teeth on said stationary ring, the said pinion engaging the internal teeth on both the stationary ring and the loose ring, the external teeth on the loose ring engaging on one side with the internal teeth in the said numeral-ring, and means for intermittently revolving said driving-shaft.

5. In a oyclometer a driving and locking device comprising a pinion'having a given number of teeth N on one end gearing with internal teeth on the adjacent side of one of a series of numeral-rings, a less number of teeth 0 on the opposite end of said pinion, constituting a tWo-point bearing on the smooth inner periphery of the preceding adjacent numeral-ring, and a lateral projection on the last-named ring adapted to intermittently engage the teeth N for the purpose of tripping and revolving said pinion, the said teeth N standing'into the path of said lug, a separating part at the side of each ring adjacent to said lug projection, and a recess adjacent to said lug, in combination with means for driving the first of the series of numeral-rings,

said means comprising a driving-shaft pass ing through said numeral-rings, a pinion cccentric thereto, a stationary toothed ring, a loose ring internally and externally toothed and gearing at one point in its external circumference with the fixed ring, said pinion gearing with said loose ring and with the first numeral-ring.

6. The combination in a oyclometer of a series of numeral-rings, means for alternately advancing and locking each of said numeralrings, with a centrally-located driving-shaft carrying a revoluble pinion eccentric thereto, said pinion gearing with astationary ring and also a loose ring having an internal diameter less than the internal diameter of said stationary ring, said loose ring gearing With internal teeth on the side of the first of the series of numeral-rings, the external diameter of the loose ring being less than the internal diameter of the said numeral-ring as determined by said internal teeth thereon, and means for intermittently revolving said driving-shaft.

7. In a oyclometer a casing, a recessed core centrally mounted therein and finding its bearing at one end of said casing, numeral rings revolubly mounted on said core, a series of transmitting and locking pinions located within said numeralrings and in the recess in said core, each of said pinions having on one end a given number of teeth in constant gear with one of the adjacent numeral-rings and on the opposite end half the number of teeth, constituting a two-point locking-bearing for the other adjacent numeral-ring, and means for intermittently driving said pinions.

CHARLES T. IIIGGINBOTHAM.

Vitnesses:

WM. T. WooDRUFn, B. E. FosTER. 

